**Chuyên Ký Eatery **
Photo: 9493.corner

As lunch time is getting closer, let us continue our nostalgic journey with another of local's treasured spot just about 200 meters from the cafe, Chuyen Ky Eatery.

Remaining in the old Ton That Dam neighborhood in the heart of an ever changing city after 70 years, Chuyen Ky is the place to be whenever you want to experience the authentic taste of Guangdong-Style Chinese food.

Humbly nested in an old market in district 1 with its beautiful vintage hand painted sign and simple arrangement, the place offers a menu of traditional Guangdong-Style home cooked food with rice served in artisanal clay pots, which we called "cơm thố". Back in the days, every Vietnamese household used to serve rice this way as the clay not only helped keep the warmth and softness, but also brought out a special aroma of the rice.

Opening hours: 11am–2:30pm, 5pm–9pm
Address: 65-67 Tôn Thất Đạm street, Bến Nghé ward, district 1

Tokyo Moon Cafe
Photo: Maggie Chen

If you're new in town and haven't decided where to start, a small, local cafe, tucked away quietly in a small alley is always an ideal start. As you are finding your way to Tokyo Moon cafe, you will stumble upon many unique storefronts written in Japanese and have the chance to take a small stroll around this little town.

As lovely as its name, Tokyo Moon possesses a unique peaceful and romantic atmosphere that one can only find from a local cafe, furnished and decorated with lovely handmade details. At this cafe, they offer Italian coffee and a variety of handmade drinks, such as Yam Latte, Pumpkin Latte, Grain tea,... they also have a lovely selection of cakes for you to enjoy a perfect romantic afternoon tea break before moving on with your journey.

Opening hours: 11am–10pm
Address: 8A/1C2 Thái Văn Lung street, Bến Nghé ward, district 1

Secret Garden Restaurant
Photo: Secret Garden

Secret Garden, like its name, is a true hidden gem that we love to introduce to anybody who is willing to see through the appearances to find the beauty inside. The way to the restaurant is easy to find, but you might need to put some effort to walk all the way to the 4th floor of a degraded small apartment.

But once you reach Secret Garden at the rooftop, you will find yourself tucked away in a lovely open air garden with colorful curtains and lanterns, lovely wooden furniture and vintage tiles. In this cozy restaurant, you can enjoy the delightful taste of Vietnamese dishes while gazing over the lovely Saigon from your seats. A truly hidden place where you can find yourself a quiet corner but still not miss out on the colorful city lights at night.

Opening hours: 11am - 10pm
Address: 158 Pasteur street, Bến Nghé ward, district 1

Lost & Found Bar
Photo: Lost & Found

As the result of an American bartender's love for Vietnamese culture, Lost & Found is one of the places to be when the locals as well as expats in the town need a cozy spot to meet up with friends and enjoy a refreshing cocktail at the end of the day.

Like most of all hidden gems in Saigon, the bar is small and quietly located in between endless storefronts of a bustling street. Before reaching its door, one finds themself walking to the end of an alley and climbing the steps of a nearly abandoned apartment. As you walk through the steps, you will encounter beautiful graffities which pays tribute to Saigon made by anonymous artists.

Once stepping inside Lost & Found, you suddenly find yourself in the middle of a Saigon house in the 90s with vintage decoration & furniture carefully selected from antique stores, soothing lights and the welcoming clattering glassware sounds from the bar.

Opening hours: 6pm - 1am_
_Address: 19/6 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai street, Bến Nghé ward, district 1